State Watchdogs For Plastic Mooted

For strict implementation of the new rules on plastics, creation of state-level authorities has been proposed to monitor the manufacture and recycling of plastic. State governments are required to declare these authorities within one month from the date of notification of the rules.

The draft rules, framed by the Union ministry of environment and forests and cleared by the minister, have now been referred to the law ministry for vetting of the wordings. On clearance, the required notification would be issued immediately, officials said.

The new rules prohibit "storing, carrying and packaging of food" in carrybags and containers made of recycled plastic. Prohibited food articles are as defined under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

Manufacture of such carrybags and containers are required to conform to the specifications prescribed under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955. They should also be unpigmented.

The carrybags and containers made of recycled plastics and used for purposes other than storing and packaging of food, would be required to conform to the specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS).

The relevant specifications are those listed under the "List of pigments and colourants for use in plastics in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceutical and drinking water" (ISI 1981).

The rules further say that no carrybag made of virgin plastics should have a thickness of less than 20 microns. For carrybags made of recycled plastics, the thickness should not be less than 25 microns.

The rules require all plastic processing and recycling to be undertaken strictly as per BIS guidelines which include marking of the end products of recycled stuff as `recycled' and indicating the percentage of recycled material used. The rules are to come into force after the final notification is issued after 60 days from the date of the issue of the draft notification as provided under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, under which the Centre has authorised the ministry to frame such rules.